April 14, 2004



For Immediate Release

RE: Thirty-five Los Angeles-area college students return from seminar in Cuba



On April 2, 2004, 35 Los Angeles-area college students returned from a seven-day seminar in Havana, Cuba, hosted by Cuban youth.

Traveling under a license from a New York City-based non-profit organization, this delegation was perhaps the last delegation of its kind allowed to engage in travel to Cuba under recently implemented travel restrictions. The new travel restrictions implemented by the current administration affects universities, non-profit groups, professional associations, museums, religious groups, American businesses, and continuing education programs.

Join the recently arrived youth when they share their experiences during a Report Back from Cuba on Saturday, April 17, 2004 at UNITE Hall, 675 S. Parkview Street (West side of MacArthur Park between Wilshire and 7th Street).

Youth will convey their perspectives on the significance of their participation in the seminar and the importance of fighting for and exercising their travel rights.

Further information on this event may be obtained at: 818.681.6260 or 310.419.2296



Spring 2004 Cuba-U.S. Seminar on Youth and the Future

It'll be cool if someone who attends this presentation can provide a decent summary of it.

Somehow I doubt these students were allowed to wander around the island, observing firsthand the poverty and misery that result from the same communist utopian bullshit being promoted by tenured kollij kampus 'marxians' (teachers, not students).

I've talked to people who have gone to Cuba and they said they were allowed to go where they pleased, and that people who did not like Castro or socialism were not afraid to say so. As far as poverty goes, Cuba's population if far better off than the populations of the neighboring capitalist nations/US colonies - Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and others. In fact right here in Los Angeles you can find slums with conditions so miserable that they match Third World standards. No one in Cuba lives at that level. Of course, there are no millionaires or affluent yuppies, but so what? I would prefer it that way.

"I would prefer it that way."

You should then take your deluded fantasies about Cub and move there.

So why is Castro cracking down on internet usage? Only allowing certain people to view certain sites??

And why are people risking death on the high seas to get the hell out of that stinking country?

Really, Meyer, you're just too naive.

he had 50 years to advance cuba to a democracy. he failed, he sucks.

"...poverty and misery..."

I take it you've never been to a ghetto?

There's more "poverty and misery" in these here United States than in Cuba, lad.

The only people in the US in poverty are bums, junkies and teenage sluts with four kids living on wlefare (paid for by you nad me).

"The only people in the US in poverty are bums, junkies and teenage sluts with four kids living on wlefare..."

Well, I see that you're fond of simplistic generalizations. Maybe one day, you won't be afraid to use what little brain matter you have.

That's why you have no argument, just an ad hominem.

It's bad enough some turd has to simultaneously steal my handle and degrade the good name of Chuck Norris, but he has to be full of shit about Cuba too.

"There's more "poverty and misery" in these here United States than in Cuba, lad."

>>> And yet you'll never move to Cuba, so STFU. If you're already there, you have my condolences.

And STFU.

What I heard from someone who went to Cuba is:

There is a real lack of freedom of speech.

There are "finks" everywhere ready to rat on people who associate with tourists.

The people are well educated, with many going to college, and attaining advanced degrees. One of Cuba's main exports is doctors and engineers to other poor nations.

They're also well read, and familiar with English literature.

Poverty is widespread, but not extreme at the level of, say, Detroit or poor parts of Los Angeles.

Despite propaganda to the contrary, racism exists.

The dollar is valuable there, and people all have a hustle to get dollars. Most of the people with dollars are whites, becaues they are more likely to have relatives in America.

Everyone gets health care. Alternative health care techniques are accepted by MDs.

Castro is really into America.

---------------------

I get the feeling that the trade embargo against Cuba is motivated in great part by the fact that, if trade were opened, their economy would probably be lifted significantly, and a lot of dollars would end up there.

Cuba didn't sound as screwed up as Jamaica, Haiti, or the Dominican Republic to me.

If a man can't speak his mind then he's as well off dead. Fuck that. Live free or die.

I went to Cuba about ten years ago and can confirm that the living standards for the poor are much better than in Mexico, El Salvador, or any other Latin American country I've visited. The socio-economic situation for the Cuban middle class, by contrast, is not as good as the socio-economic situation of the middle class in Mexico.

Intellectual freedom is heavily curtailed as are the rights of workers. People do not have the right to form unions (let alone strike) and reading material (whether in print or online) is controlled by the government.

I think the embargo should be lifted. Every other capitalist nation is already trading with Cuba. Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Canada, etc. etc. etc. are all in there. The more trade, student exchanges, and democratic challenges from abroad the better. Its sad that the only student groups going over are so pro-Castro.

"And the rest of us would be much happier with you and your ilk in Cuba too. It's a win-win idea. Can I come over and help you pack?"


Great job!

What else would you say to someone who acts like a ten year old?

That's rich, coming from someone who acts like a five year-old.

And you're a stupidhead!

Thanks for proving my case.